POWELL, Loretta Adeline (Reich) 1917-2004

POWELL, REICH, PASCHELKA, KING, SPENCER, BLAIR, RITZERT

Posted By: Diane M Scott (email)
Date: 5/11/2012 at 12:05:24

MASON CITY -- Loretta A. Powell, 86, of 146 14th St. NW, Mason City, died Wednesday evening (July 14, 2004) at Mercy Medical Center- North Iowa in Mason City.

Her “Service Of Celebration” will be held at 10:30 a.m. today at the Bethlehem Lutheran Church, 419 N. Delaware Ave. in Mason City, with the Rev. Mark Lavrenz officiating. Interment will be in Memorial Park Cemetery, Mason City. Visitation was held on Friday at the Fullerton Funeral Home, 123 Second St. S.E. in Mason City. Visitation will continue one hour prior to her service at the church. Those wishing to extend memorials or expressions of sympathy may direct them to the Loretta A. Powell Memorial Fund.

Loretta Adeline Powell was born Oct. 10, 1917, in Alta Vista, to Bernard J. and Mary E. (Paschelka) Reich. She was one of 12 children born to her parents. During her younger years, Loretta assisted various families with household chores.

On July 25, 1938, Loretta was united in marriage to Ernest E. Powell in Elma, Iowa. Throughout the years, the couple enjoyed spending special time together while going for car rides. Loretta was an avid reader of a wide variety of publications and tended to many a vegetable and flower garden in her lifetime.

Some of her leisure activities and interests included canning her produce, solving book-type puzzles and traveling with her family to many vacation spots across the United States.

Loretta is described by her children as a strong-willed and loving woman with a great sense of humor. She was a devoted wife and nurturing mother who was graciously willing to assist anyone in any capacity.

Loretta’s family was of foremost importance to her and her children and grandchildren claim they never doubted her outpouring love, which she continuously exhibited.

Preparing for the holidays and having her family at home was a special and busy time. “Saturday morning coffee at Mom’s” will be a treasured memory for many. She found great pride and joy in anticipating the birth of a new family member and personally became acquainted by rocking each baby.

Lorettas children recall that their mom made a special cake for expectant parents, a good luck charm for a healthy and uncomplicated birth. They speak fondly of and will greatly miss Lorettas homemade chicken and biscuits, dill pickles, wilted lettuce, banana graham cracker pie and the best homemade bread in the world!

Loretta was devoted to her faith and a member of Bethlehem Lutheran Church in Mason City.

Loretta will be missed dearly by family and friends who have shared her life.

She is survived by her children, Roger (Sandra) Powell of Mason City; Sharon (Fred) King of Charles City; Patricia Powell of Mason City; Sandra (Kurt) Spencer of Nora Springs; Mary (Dan) Blair of Nora Springs; Jane (Lee) Ritzert of Kensett and Judy Reich of Manly.

She will also be sadly missed by her daughter-in-law, Margaret Powell of Mason City; her four sisters-in-law, Bonnie Reich of Mason City, Opal Peters of LeRoy, Minn., Pearl Reich of St. Paul, Minn. and May Day of Lancaster, Wis.; her 12 grandchildren; 15 great-grandchildren; and two great-great-grandchildren; many special nieces, nephews and other relatives and friends.

Preceding Loretta in death are her husband, Ernest E. Powell in April of 1973; her parents, Bernard and Mary Reich; four sisters; seven brothers and her great-grandson, Nickolas Rowe.

Fullerton Funeral Home and Cremation Service, (641) 423-8676

Mason City, The Globe, July 18, 2004